Science museum - Definition and Overview

A science museum, as its title says, is primarily a museum of science. Note, however, that many if not most science museums also put much weight on technology, which in principle, although often related, is a different concept that science.

A partial list of the preeminent science museums of the world would include the following:

• The Science Museum in London (universally known as just "The Science Museum"). Unlike many other institutions referred to as science museums, the Science Museum is primarily a historical museum and not a demonstration exhibit (although it does contain such science centre installations as well). It includes such famous items as many of the first steam engines, Stephenson's Rocket steam locomotive, the original models of DNA and heme, the first MRI machine, the first jet engine, and so forth. Entrance is free.

• The Hong Kong Science Museum.

• The Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford.

• The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. This museum was formerly known as the Rosenwald Museum and is the sole remaining structure of the World Columbian Exposition. It is located on Chicago's south lakefront east of the University of Chicago campus. Special exhibits include an operating coal mine, a space museum and Omni Max theatre, a railroad museum and a Nazi submarine. Entrance fee required.

• The Museon in The Hague.

• The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto.

• Science North and Dynamic Earth in Greater Sudbury, Ontario.

• Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh

• The Science Museum of Minnesota in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

• The Musée des Artes et Métiers in Paris, France.

• The Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence, Italy. Many of Galileo Galilei's original instruments are housed in this museum.

See also

• List of museums